Fighters Fire Rockets Into Baghdad S Green Belt As Rival Shiite Groups Clash Iraq

Iran closed its borders and urged its citizens to leave Iraq as gunmen roamed the streets of the capital, amid efforts by pro-Iranian factions and those loyal to Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to ease tensions that had escalated as response to Sadr’s decision to leave politics. Iran’s move came as millions of Iranians prepared to visit Iraq for the annual pilgrimage to Shiite sites. Kuwait, meanwhile, urged its citizens in Iraq to leave the country and encouraged those hoping to travel to Iraq to delay their plans. Long Iraq’s most secure enclave, the Green Belt, home to the national parliament and diplomatic missions, has been the scene of clashes between increasingly feuding Shiite factions amid intractable attempts to form a government. The Iraqi military has, for the most part, sidestepped the conflict, unwilling to intervene in a power struggle between the most powerful groups on earth. However, a counter-terrorist force was seen preventing the entry of a unit from the Popular Mobilization Unit (PMU), an auxiliary force deployed during the fight against Islamic State that has maintained a significant presence since the war ended. Protesters loyal to Sadr had earlier pulled down barricades outside the government palace with ropes and breached the palace gates. Many rushed into the palace’s opulent salons and marble halls, a key meeting point for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries. Open conflict between Shiite groups in Iraq has been feared in recent months as the standoff has intensified between militia proxies and political blocs linked to Tehran and the Sadrist bloc loyal to Sadr, which performed strongly in elections held before from 10 months at the expense of his opponent. Since then, pro-Tehran factions have been trying to reverse electoral losses, while Sadr has tried unsuccessfully to turn his poll gains into political power. Sadr’s departure followed the resignation of his spiritual mentor, Ayatollah Kadhim Haeri, who in a surprise statement urged him to follow Iran and questioned his legitimacy to lead the Sadrist movement. The 46-year-old cleric has threatened to resign on seven previous occasions over the past 20 years. However, this time he also forced his MPs to resign from their seats and claimed he wants to dismantle Iraq’s political system, which distributes political power along sectarian lines. The streets of Baghdad remained largely deserted on Tuesday morning, witnesses said. “There is a lot of shooting in and near the green belt,” said Saud Mansour, a resident in the west of the city. “We saw the Sadrist trucks in our area, but they don’t stop. They are heading towards the parliament area.” Images of militia trucks roaming the country’s streets have evoked images from the height of the country’s civil war, during which neither the national army nor the US occupation army could contain years of brutal sectarian violence, in which the Sadr’s Jeish al-Mahdi was a key protagonist. “They have nationalist credentials now, or so they say,” said Ahmad Kurdi, 36, a retailer from eastern Baghdad. “But if this fight continues to develop, it becomes something bigger than they can control. “And do the Iranians really think they can defeat the Sadrists? If they do, they are making a mistake that everyone will pay for.”

title: “Fighters Fire Rockets Into Baghdad S Green Belt As Rival Shiite Groups Clash Iraq Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-16” author: “Ray Madrigal”

Iran closed its borders and urged its citizens to leave Iraq as gunmen roamed the streets of the capital, amid efforts by pro-Iranian factions and those loyal to Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to ease tensions that had escalated as response to Sadr’s decision to leave politics. Iran’s move came as millions of Iranians prepared to visit Iraq for the annual pilgrimage to Shiite sites. Kuwait, meanwhile, urged its citizens in Iraq to leave the country and encouraged those hoping to travel to Iraq to delay their plans. Long Iraq’s most secure enclave, the Green Belt, home to the national parliament and diplomatic missions, has been the scene of clashes between increasingly feuding Shiite factions amid intractable attempts to form a government. The Iraqi military has, for the most part, sidestepped the conflict, unwilling to intervene in a power struggle between the most powerful groups on earth. However, a counter-terrorist force was seen preventing the entry of a unit from the Popular Mobilization Unit (PMU), an auxiliary force deployed during the fight against Islamic State that has maintained a significant presence since the war ended. Protesters loyal to Sadr had earlier pulled down barricades outside the government palace with ropes and breached the palace gates. Many rushed into the palace’s opulent salons and marble halls, a key meeting point for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries. Open conflict between Shiite groups in Iraq has been feared in recent months as the standoff has intensified between militia proxies and political blocs linked to Tehran and the Sadrist bloc loyal to Sadr, which performed strongly in elections held before from 10 months at the expense of his opponent. Since then, pro-Tehran factions have been trying to reverse electoral losses, while Sadr has tried unsuccessfully to turn his poll gains into political power. Sadr’s departure followed the resignation of his spiritual mentor, Ayatollah Kadhim Haeri, who in a surprise statement urged him to follow Iran and questioned his legitimacy to lead the Sadrist movement. The 46-year-old cleric has threatened to resign on seven previous occasions over the past 20 years. However, this time he also forced his MPs to resign from their seats and claimed he wants to dismantle Iraq’s political system, which distributes political power along sectarian lines. The streets of Baghdad remained largely deserted on Tuesday morning, witnesses said. “There is a lot of shooting in and near the green belt,” said Saud Mansour, a resident in the west of the city. “We saw the Sadrist trucks in our area, but they don’t stop. They are heading towards the parliament area.” Images of militia trucks roaming the country’s streets have evoked images from the height of the country’s civil war, during which neither the national army nor the US occupation army could contain years of brutal sectarian violence, in which the Sadr’s Jeish al-Mahdi was a key protagonist. “They have nationalist credentials now, or so they say,” said Ahmad Kurdi, 36, a retailer from eastern Baghdad. “But if this fight continues to develop, it becomes something bigger than they can control. “And do the Iranians really think they can defeat the Sadrists? If they do, they are making a mistake that everyone will pay for.”

title: “Fighters Fire Rockets Into Baghdad S Green Belt As Rival Shiite Groups Clash Iraq Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-21” author: “Michael Knarr”

Iran closed its borders and urged its citizens to leave Iraq as gunmen roamed the streets of the capital, amid efforts by pro-Iranian factions and those loyal to Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to ease tensions that had escalated as response to Sadr’s decision to leave politics. Iran’s move came as millions of Iranians prepared to visit Iraq for the annual pilgrimage to Shiite sites. Kuwait, meanwhile, urged its citizens in Iraq to leave the country and encouraged those hoping to travel to Iraq to delay their plans. Long Iraq’s most secure enclave, the Green Belt, home to the national parliament and diplomatic missions, has been the scene of clashes between increasingly feuding Shiite factions amid intractable attempts to form a government. The Iraqi military has, for the most part, sidestepped the conflict, unwilling to intervene in a power struggle between the most powerful groups on earth. However, a counter-terrorist force was seen preventing the entry of a unit from the Popular Mobilization Unit (PMU), an auxiliary force deployed during the fight against Islamic State that has maintained a significant presence since the war ended. Protesters loyal to Sadr had earlier pulled down barricades outside the government palace with ropes and breached the palace gates. Many rushed into the palace’s opulent salons and marble halls, a key meeting point for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries. Open conflict between Shiite groups in Iraq has been feared in recent months as the standoff has intensified between militia proxies and political blocs linked to Tehran and the Sadrist bloc loyal to Sadr, which performed strongly in elections held before from 10 months at the expense of his opponent. Since then, pro-Tehran factions have been trying to reverse electoral losses, while Sadr has tried unsuccessfully to turn his poll gains into political power. Sadr’s departure followed the resignation of his spiritual mentor, Ayatollah Kadhim Haeri, who in a surprise statement urged him to follow Iran and questioned his legitimacy to lead the Sadrist movement. The 46-year-old cleric has threatened to resign on seven previous occasions over the past 20 years. However, this time he also forced his MPs to resign from their seats and claimed he wants to dismantle Iraq’s political system, which distributes political power along sectarian lines. The streets of Baghdad remained largely deserted on Tuesday morning, witnesses said. “There is a lot of shooting in and near the green belt,” said Saud Mansour, a resident in the west of the city. “We saw the Sadrist trucks in our area, but they don’t stop. They are heading towards the parliament area.” Images of militia trucks roaming the country’s streets have evoked images from the height of the country’s civil war, during which neither the national army nor the US occupation army could contain years of brutal sectarian violence, in which the Sadr’s Jeish al-Mahdi was a key protagonist. “They have nationalist credentials now, or so they say,” said Ahmad Kurdi, 36, a retailer from eastern Baghdad. “But if this fight continues to develop, it becomes something bigger than they can control. “And do the Iranians really think they can defeat the Sadrists? If they do, they are making a mistake that everyone will pay for.”

title: “Fighters Fire Rockets Into Baghdad S Green Belt As Rival Shiite Groups Clash Iraq Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-10” author: “Bessie Petros”

Iran closed its borders and urged its citizens to leave Iraq as gunmen roamed the streets of the capital, amid efforts by pro-Iranian factions and those loyal to Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to ease tensions that had escalated as response to Sadr’s decision to leave politics. Iran’s move came as millions of Iranians prepared to visit Iraq for the annual pilgrimage to Shiite sites. Kuwait, meanwhile, urged its citizens in Iraq to leave the country and encouraged those hoping to travel to Iraq to delay their plans. Long Iraq’s most secure enclave, the Green Belt, home to the national parliament and diplomatic missions, has been the scene of clashes between increasingly feuding Shiite factions amid intractable attempts to form a government. The Iraqi military has, for the most part, sidestepped the conflict, unwilling to intervene in a power struggle between the most powerful groups on earth. However, a counter-terrorist force was seen preventing the entry of a unit from the Popular Mobilization Unit (PMU), an auxiliary force deployed during the fight against Islamic State that has maintained a significant presence since the war ended. Protesters loyal to Sadr had earlier pulled down barricades outside the government palace with ropes and breached the palace gates. Many rushed into the palace’s opulent salons and marble halls, a key meeting point for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries. Open conflict between Shiite groups in Iraq has been feared in recent months as the standoff has intensified between militia proxies and political blocs linked to Tehran and the Sadrist bloc loyal to Sadr, which performed strongly in elections held before from 10 months at the expense of his opponent. Since then, pro-Tehran factions have been trying to reverse electoral losses, while Sadr has tried unsuccessfully to turn his poll gains into political power. Sadr’s departure followed the resignation of his spiritual mentor, Ayatollah Kadhim Haeri, who in a surprise statement urged him to follow Iran and questioned his legitimacy to lead the Sadrist movement. The 46-year-old cleric has threatened to resign on seven previous occasions over the past 20 years. However, this time he also forced his MPs to resign from their seats and claimed he wants to dismantle Iraq’s political system, which distributes political power along sectarian lines. The streets of Baghdad remained largely deserted on Tuesday morning, witnesses said. “There is a lot of shooting in and near the green belt,” said Saud Mansour, a resident in the west of the city. “We saw the Sadrist trucks in our area, but they don’t stop. They are heading towards the parliament area.” Images of militia trucks roaming the country’s streets have evoked images from the height of the country’s civil war, during which neither the national army nor the US occupation army could contain years of brutal sectarian violence, in which the Sadr’s Jeish al-Mahdi was a key protagonist. “They have nationalist credentials now, or so they say,” said Ahmad Kurdi, 36, a retailer from eastern Baghdad. “But if this fight continues to develop, it becomes something bigger than they can control. “And do the Iranians really think they can defeat the Sadrists? If they do, they are making a mistake that everyone will pay for.”

title: “Fighters Fire Rockets Into Baghdad S Green Belt As Rival Shiite Groups Clash Iraq Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-10” author: “Vanessa Gooslin”

Iran closed its borders and urged its citizens to leave Iraq as gunmen roamed the streets of the capital, amid efforts by pro-Iranian factions and those loyal to Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to ease tensions that had escalated as response to Sadr’s decision to leave politics. Iran’s move came as millions of Iranians prepared to visit Iraq for the annual pilgrimage to Shiite sites. Kuwait, meanwhile, urged its citizens in Iraq to leave the country and encouraged those hoping to travel to Iraq to delay their plans. Long Iraq’s most secure enclave, the Green Belt, home to the national parliament and diplomatic missions, has been the scene of clashes between increasingly feuding Shiite factions amid intractable attempts to form a government. The Iraqi military has, for the most part, sidestepped the conflict, unwilling to intervene in a power struggle between the most powerful groups on earth. However, a counter-terrorist force was seen preventing the entry of a unit from the Popular Mobilization Unit (PMU), an auxiliary force deployed during the fight against Islamic State that has maintained a significant presence since the war ended. Protesters loyal to Sadr had earlier pulled down barricades outside the government palace with ropes and breached the palace gates. Many rushed into the palace’s opulent salons and marble halls, a key meeting point for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries. Open conflict between Shiite groups in Iraq has been feared in recent months as the standoff has intensified between militia proxies and political blocs linked to Tehran and the Sadrist bloc loyal to Sadr, which performed strongly in elections held before from 10 months at the expense of his opponent. Since then, pro-Tehran factions have been trying to reverse electoral losses, while Sadr has tried unsuccessfully to turn his poll gains into political power. Sadr’s departure followed the resignation of his spiritual mentor, Ayatollah Kadhim Haeri, who in a surprise statement urged him to follow Iran and questioned his legitimacy to lead the Sadrist movement. The 46-year-old cleric has threatened to resign on seven previous occasions over the past 20 years. However, this time he also forced his MPs to resign from their seats and claimed he wants to dismantle Iraq’s political system, which distributes political power along sectarian lines. The streets of Baghdad remained largely deserted on Tuesday morning, witnesses said. “There is a lot of shooting in and near the green belt,” said Saud Mansour, a resident in the west of the city. “We saw the Sadrist trucks in our area, but they don’t stop. They are heading towards the parliament area.” Images of militia trucks roaming the country’s streets have evoked images from the height of the country’s civil war, during which neither the national army nor the US occupation army could contain years of brutal sectarian violence, in which the Sadr’s Jeish al-Mahdi was a key protagonist. “They have nationalist credentials now, or so they say,” said Ahmad Kurdi, 36, a retailer from eastern Baghdad. “But if this fight continues to develop, it becomes something bigger than they can control. “And do the Iranians really think they can defeat the Sadrists? If they do, they are making a mistake that everyone will pay for.”